What to do after a catastrophic injury accident

When you’ve been in a catastrophic injury accident, it turns your world upside down. Regular injuries like scrapes and broken bones are difficult to deal with, but these injuries heal. On the other hand, calamities like car crashes, slips and falls, defective product injuries, or medical malpractice can cause a range of traumatic, lifelong injuries, including:

  • Paralysis
  • Amputation
  • Brain damage
  • Loss of hearing or sight
  • Disfigurement

These types of injuries can significantly alter your daily routines and activities. You might need special medical equipment or home modifications to handle your condition, or you might even need care around the clock. It’s overwhelming to think that life will never be the same as it was before the accident, but there are specific steps you can take to help adjust to this “new normal.”

Prioritize your health

If you didn’t get medical attention at the accident scene, visit a physician as soon as possible to have your injuries evaluated. Some injuries from catastrophic accidents aren’t always obvious and can develop over time. A doctor can help detect these injuries and can help you get the treatment you need. They can also provide a record of your injuries, which will be a critical piece of evidence if you decide to file a claim.

Keep good records

In the aftermath of an injury accident, it’s easy to forget details that will be vital if you decide to file a claim or lawsuit for the accident. To help keep track of these details, take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, and write down everything you can remember about the incident.

Keep a log of everyone you speak to about the accident, important meetings like doctor’s appointments, and all expenses related to the accident. Catastrophic accidents are not only physically and emotionally traumatizing, but they are also astronomically expensive.

If you decide to file a claim or lawsuit for the accident, you’ll need to need thorough documentation to show proof of expenses caused by the accident. Some of these expenses might include things like:

  • Current and future medical care
  • Emotional trauma
  • Disability accommodations and equipment
  • Special vehicles and home modifications
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Lost wages

Watch your words

Don’t speak to the other party’s insurance company without consulting with your lawyer. The insurance company will do everything they can to reduce or eliminate the amount they have to pay you. They might show up at the accident scene or call you to try to talk you into a low settlement that might not cover the full range of expenses you’re facing. Catastrophic accidents can lead to a lifetime of expensive medical bills and procedures, so it’s essential to make sure you’re getting full compensation.

Contact a New York injury lawyer

At Hach & Rose, LLP, we are dedicated to helping children and their families suffering because of others’ recklessness. If you were injured in a catastrophic accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to significant compensation, and the experienced personal injury lawyers at Hach & Rose, LLP are here to help. Call us today at (212) 779-0057 to schedule your free consultation.

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